Latest news with #RajonRondo
Yahoo
05-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Kevin Garnett once suggested a young Rajon Rondo might struggle late in his NBA career: "I don't know what he's going to be like when he's 35"
Kevin Garnett once suggested a young Rajon Rondo might struggle late in his NBA career: "I don't know what he's going to be like when he's 35" originally appeared on Basketball Network. Early in his NBA career, four-time All-Star Rajon Rondo earned a reputation for toughness. Injuries didn't stop him. While others gladly sat out, the young point guard played through pain, refusing to slow down. Advertisement Naturally, his Boston Celtics teammates respected it, especially Kevin Garnett. But interestingly, the Hall of Famer also warned of the downside after one of the most famous moments when Rondo fought through his injuries. Like Willis Reed in 1970 Most NBA fans remember Willis Reed's iconic Game 7 entrance in the 1971 Finals. Injured but resolute, the New York Knicks legend sank two early jumpers that didn't just ignite his team's eventual title win — they became the ultimate symbol of grit and resilience. Decades later, in the 2011 Eastern Conference semifinals, Rondo created his own "Reed Moment". During Game 3 against the Miami Heat, a harsh collision with opposing guard Dwyane Wade had left the former Kentucky Wildcat with a hyperextended, dislocated elbow. Advertisement The gruesome injury sent shockwaves through TD Garden. Among those who feared the worst was then-Celtics head coach Doc Rivers, who was stunned by what he saw next. "I was in the huddle and saw Rondo walk by me," the 2000 COY recounted. "And it looked like he was going to play." After his elbow was reset, Johnny did just that. Essentially competing with one arm, the playmaker finished with six points and 11 assists — a fearless effort that helped secure a 97-81 win over the Heatles. Related: Michael Jordan shows off his $115 million luxurious superyacht in Croatia Late-career struggles Statistically and performance-wise, it wasn't one of Playoff Rondo's best performances, but his emotional impact was priceless, as The Big Ticket noted. Advertisement The legendary forward, who dropped 28 points and snagged 18 rebounds that night, was stunned by his teammates' return and recognized its significance. "All of us sort of looked at each other like, 'What is he doing out here? Is he being smart right now?", the 2004 MVP recalled, noting how that mindset inspired the whole team. "He's (Rondo) showing a lot of heart, a lot of grit. We see it. That doesn't go unspoken or unseen. We see he's out there giving his full effort. We're following that lead," KG emphasized. This wasn't Rajon's first or last time playing through injuries. Despite the typical point guard grind, the former 21st pick rarely missed games in his first four NBA seasons. Advertisement "I'm not going to go through the list of injuries that you all are unaware of; I'm not going to put him out there like that, but I've seen him play through some horrific injuries," Garnett said. However, The Big Ticket also acknowledged that persistence often comes at a cost. Pushing through without proper rest risks worsening and recurring injuries, which can ultimately shorten a career. "I don't know what he's (Rondo) going to be like when he's 35," KG admitted. Ultimately, that's the crux. While aging players naturally see less court time, Rondo's late-career decline was still far from ordinary. Advertisement In his final four campaigns, the two-time NBA champion played only about half of the possible regular-season games, and his performance was nowhere near his prime level. Having his last stint at age 35 with the 2021–22 Cleveland Cavaliers, Rondo ultimately retired in April 2024. Related: Baron Davis recalls getting manhandled by John Stockton in his rookie year: "All them little tricks, he knew how to do all of that stuff" This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Jul 5, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
10-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Rajon Rondo gets thrown into Knicks head coach search
The post Rajon Rondo gets thrown into Knicks head coach search appeared first on ClutchPoints. The New York Knicks' search for a new head coach continues to generate buzz following the firing of Tom Thibodeau on Tuesday. Among the latest names floated is former NBA point guard Rajon Rondo, who was suggested by ESPN analyst Jay Williams during Wednesday's broadcast of Get Up on ESPN. Advertisement Williams acknowledged that Rondo lacks formal head coaching experience but emphasized the respect Rondo commands across the league for his basketball IQ and leadership. 'I'm going to give a dark horse guys and I'm sure everybody's going to react to it because he has no head coaching experience,' Williams said. 'But if you ask any NBA player how they feel about Rajon Rondo they always talk about how brilliant of an IQ that he has. And the fact that defensively, offensively he's great at building schemes on the fly. Ask Doc Rivers on those championship teams that he's won.' Rondo, 38, retired from the NBA in 2024 after a 16-year career that included stints with the Boston Celtics, Los Angeles Lakers, and several other franchises. He won two NBA championships — one with Boston in 2008 and another with the Lakers in 2020. His career accolades include four All-Star selections, an All-NBA Third Team nod, five All-Defensive Team honors, and multiple statistical titles, including three for assists and one for steals. Rajon Rondo's coaching interest resurfaces as Knicks weigh options Williams noted Rondo's potential value to the Knicks given his knowledge of the Eastern Conference and his potential to elevate Jalen Brunson's game. Advertisement 'I'm not saying he's going to win,' Williams added, 'But I definitely think that's a name that people should consider to be an NBA head coach at this level because of his familiarity in the Eastern Conference and because of unlocking other guards in Jalen Brunson.' Rondo has previously expressed interest in coaching but had postponed formal steps in that direction to focus on raising his children. He participated in training camp with Doc Rivers and the Milwaukee Bucks ahead of the 2024–25 season as a guest coach and was expected to remain around the team throughout the year. Thibodeau was dismissed after five seasons with a 226-174 regular-season record and a 24-23 mark in the playoffs. His tenure included four playoff appearances and the franchise's first Eastern Conference Finals berth since 2000. He previously served as an assistant under former Knicks coach Jeff Van Gundy from 1996 to 2001. Van Gundy was also mentioned during Wednesday's Get Up by ESPN's Brian Windhorst, who suggested the Knicks should consider a potential reunion. Advertisement As the coaching search unfolds, Rondo joins a growing and varied list of candidates as the Knicks explore their next step. Related: Taj Gibson fires NSFW Tom Thibodeau message after Knicks firing Related: Knicks' Tom Thibodeau firing sparks surprise in NYC mayoral debate
Yahoo
09-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Alex Caruso said LeBron James and Rajon Rondo taught him how to see plays before they happen: "It's like chess… they're two moves ahead"
On his appearance on "The Old Man and The Three" podcast in 2021, Alex Caruso broke down the core of elite defense. According to him, the best defenders aren't simply reacting; they're predicting. AC explained how reading the game before it unfolds allows a player to be in the right spot without hesitation. He credited that insight to two of the sharpest minds he's shared the court with: LeBron James and Rajon Rondo. Caruso's chess lessons These days, Caruso is a key veteran for the Oklahoma City Thunder, helping guide one of the NBA's youngest teams to a historic regular season record. Advertisement However, his rise to this leadership began much more modestly when he entered the league as an undrafted two-way player with the Los Angeles Lakers. Although the Texas native was "already" 23 when he made his NBA debut in 2017, he was still finding his way at the highest level. For players in that situation, having experienced mentors is invaluable. Luckily, Caruso had not just one but two of the smartest minds in basketball to guide him: James and Rondo. Together, they won an NBA championship in the 2020 bubble. Along the way, Alex wasn't just watching their skills — he was studying their mental approach. James and Rondo didn't simply play; they controlled every moment on the court. Their talent to anticipate plays, guide teammates with clear communication, and stay mentally several steps ahead was like watching a masterful game of chess, the "Bald Mamba" said. Advertisement "They're just so smart, and seeing them operate for a couple of years, and seeing how they would communicate, think, point, and tell people where to go before stuff happened … it's like chess, right? They're two moves ahead," noted the 31-year-old. Related: Walt Frazier admits NBA players were afraid to lift weights back in the day: "Basketball players thought it would affect their shot" Caruso is always one step ahead on defense When raving about Bron and Rajon on the podcast, Alex mentioned that he's tried to pick up on how they read plays before they actually happen. It's safe to say the 6'5" shooting guard has done this with great success in the years that followed, as it's become a signature part of his high-IQ defensive game. Advertisement Caruso's growth as a top defender shows not just in his reputation as a 2023 All-Defensive First Team player but also in the stats. He ranks in the top 10 in deflections this season, clearly showing his ability to break up plays before they fully develop. "If you have to think about what's going on, you're going to be a half-second slow because you have to process it," he said, adding that even being just 0.7 seconds faster can make a real difference — whether it's moving the right way or turning to cover someone. "You gotta know what the other guys wanna do first of all," emphasized the former Chicago Bull. As AC explained, this anticipation also helps him spot opponents' fakes or predict where they might move on the court, sometimes even before they realize it themselves. Advertisement "It's a lot of like recognizing what's happening and what you think's gonna happen," he said. Naturally, shutting down opponents also depends on length, size and quick feet for lateral movement, as the "Bald Mamba" pointed out. But the mental side of it all is just as important, and he shows that better than most players in today's NBA. Related: "It's basically like college but no fun" — Alex Caruso on why there's no asterisk next to the Lakers' 2020 NBA Championship
USA Today
30-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Should the Boston Celtics consider drafting big man Danny Wolf?
Should the Boston Celtics consider drafting big man Danny Wolf? Should the Boston Celtics consider drafting big man Danny Wolf? The Celtics will enter the 2025 NBA draft armed with a pair of picks at the end of the first round and at the start of the second, respectively. And while the University of Michigan center is mocked higher than where Boston could take him at Nos. 28 or 32, is there a way he could slip to the Celtics -- or for Boston to move up to grab him? More importantly than that, is his upside as a rising prospect enough to warrant taking him in the first place, never mind burning assets to move up in the draft? A big man whose passing has been compared to Boston legend Rajon Rondo certainly piques one's attention, but what about the rest of his game? The hosts of the CLNS Media "How Bout Them Celtics!" podcast, Jack Simone and Sam LaFrance, took some time on a recent episode of their show to talk it over. Check it out below! If you enjoy this pod, check out the "How Bout Them Celtics," "First to the Floor," and the many other New England sports podcasts available on the CLNS Media network:
Associated Press
19-05-2025
- Sport
- Associated Press
Rick Carlisle's changing style has helped Pacers reach 2nd straight Eastern Conference finals
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Indiana Pacers coach Rick Carlisle still prefers brutal honesty to nuance. He doesn't sugar-coat mistakes, doesn't fear taking his critiques public and doesn't shield players from high expectations. It's not who he is — and these young Pacers embrace it. Yes, after winning nearly 1,000 regular season games, one NBA title and surviving 23 up-and-down seasons as an NBA head coach, Carlisle has seemingly found the perfect fit in a locker room that views a tough, demand coaching through a more genteel prism. 'A savant,' two-time All-Star Tyrese Haliburton dubbed Carlisle during Indiana's semifinal series. 'When it comes to adjustments and getting the best out of guys, we follow his lead, and his intensity come playoff time is easy to follow. When we have a game like (the Game 3 loss to Cleveland), he sets the tone with our energy, practice, film or whatever.' Carlisle is back in his third Eastern Conference finals not because he stuck to his old-school philosophy, but because he figured out how to adapt to the league's new ways. Instead of routinely calling plays from the bench or complaining when opponents produce 40-point quarters, the 65-year-old Carlisle trusts Haliburton and the Pacers ball-handlers on the floor and now understands high-scoring quarters are just part of today's game — even if he doesn't like it. The transition hasn't come without some rough edges such as the sideline clash between Carlisle and All-Star guard Rajon Rondo in February 2015. 'I would literally give him (Rondo) my play sheet, and he would make calls.' said Milwaukee coach Doc Rivers, who coached Rondo in Boston. 'I remember Rick calling me and the last thing I told him was 'Rick, I may have created a monster, I don't know. You're going to have let him help you on the floor.' It was like 24 hours later you see them getting into it on the sideline because Rondo didn't want to call that play.' The two patched things up later. But in the decade since, things seem to have changed. Center Myles Turner, who grew up in Dallas, believes Carlisle has given the players more freedom to work their magic on the court. New York Knicks star Jalen Brunson also saw that side of Carlisle during his first five pro seasons in Dallas. Brunson and Carlisle will meet for the second straight year in the playoffs Wednesday night in Game 1 at New York. 'Different personnel, but that's just coach Carlisle. With the personnel he has he's going to adapt and going to play with whatever their personnel's strengths are,' Brunson said Monday. 'What he's been able to do there (with Indiana) in a short time is special.' Carlisle's coaching principles are the result of a 40-plus year resume that reads like a basketball history lesson. He was teammates with Ralph Sampson, Larry Bird and the late Bill Walton. As a coach, he worked with stars such as Reggie Miller, Chauncey Billups, Dirk Nowitzki, Luka Doncic and Brunson and endured the pain of playoff losses with some of the game's biggest names — Michael Jordan, Patrick Ewing, Shaquille O'Neal and the late Kobe Bryant. Carlisle won a championship with the 1985-86 Boston Celtics, one of the greatest teams in league history, and in 2010-11 as the Mavericks coach. And in between he dealt with the fallout from one of he NBA's biggest black eyes, the 2004 brawl between Indiana and Detroit. But Carlisle never shied away from a challenge, and he managed to navigate the NBA's ever-evolving world long enough that he'll head into next season as the league's second-winningest active coach, behind Rivers, and needing seven victories become the 11th member of the 1,000-win club. 'I think all of us have had to change,' Rivers said. 'Where Rick has been always good, in my opinion, he just coaches the team he has, and I think he realized early on with Haliburton, this may be one of those teams where 'I just have to wind them up and let them go.' I think that's why he's a sensational coach.' And Haliburton & Co. have taken full advantage. A year ago, they ended a franchise-worst nine-game skid in the playoffs, won their first postseason series and reached the conference finals for the first time in a decade. This year, they won 50 games and earned home-court advantage for the first round for the first time since 2013-2014. Now the Pacers are four wins away from reaching the NBA Finals for the second time and to nobody's surprise, Carlisle is back on the bench for this run, too. 'He let's players go out there and create,' Turner said. 'I think that helps, especially this time of year, because in the playoffs, everybody scouts, everybody knows your plays and whatnot. So you've got to freelance more. I think his experience with different personnel, different guys in this league, he knows how to adapt.' ___ AP NBA:
